Community Health Worker ECHO
What is a Community Health Worker (CHW)?
CHWs serve as a bridge between patients and the healthcare system. They provide culturally appropriate health education, assist with care coordination, connect individuals to essential resources such as housing, food assistance, Medicaid, and employment services, and help reduce barriers to care—particularly in underserved populations.
Community Health Workers (CHWs) often share the language, culture, and life experiences of the communities they serve, and play a vital role in supporting patient care beyond the clinical setting
As a valuable part of the healthcare team, CHWs are effective partners in addressing social determinants of health, improving patient engagement and adherence, reducing avoidable hospital visits, and enhancing overall care delivery. Their holistic, community-centered approach complements clinical treatment and supports population health efforts.
Our CHW training suite
The SIU Community Health Worker ECHO provides comprehensive training and ongoing support for individuals interested in becoming Community Health Workers (CHWs). It also serves current CHWs looking to enhance their skills or transition into specialized roles within the field. Through virtual sessions and an “all teach, all learn” approach, the program equips participants with the knowledge and tools needed to make a meaningful impact in their communities.
Community Health Work 101 and 102
CHW 101: Designed for new and emergent CHWs, this 17-week training will help CHWs develop the 10 core competencies and 11 core skills of an effective community health worker. Topics include Introduction to public health and health policy, developing professional standards, communication skill development, Trauma Informed Care, Motivational Interviewing, capacity building, advocacy, outreach, professional development and more.
CHW 102: Designed for CHWs who intend to work closely with, or in, the clinical healthcare setting. This 15-week training will explore additional skillsets needed to work effectively as part of a patient focused healthcare team. Topics include Introduction to the clinical setting, community health work for reintegration, federal and Illinois law for CHWs, medical terminology, mental health for CHWs, lifestyle medicine for CHWs, basic pharmacology, and introduction to case management.
Community Health Work 201
CHW 201: Intended for CHWs who have some field experience. This 8-week session is intended to help CHWs further develop their skillsets. Topics include substance misuse, private pay and managed care insurance, coaching, public speaking, program development, leadership, personal advocacy, and more.
Chronic Health for CHWs: Designed to introduce the basics of the most common chronic diseases affecting the public. This 16-week session will cover Hypertension, Diabetes, Asthma, and heart disease. CHWs will learn how these diseases affect the body and what evidence-based self-management education is available to help support those living with these diseases.
Benefits
To support CHWs in their professional development and continuing education, topic-specific CHW ECHO programs will be offered in alternating years beginning in Fall 2026. These focused sessions will cover areas such as neurological chronic disease, culinary medicine, oral health, Opioid use, cancer, rural health, leadership, CHW supervision, and more—providing opportunities for Community Health Workers to deepen their expertise and expand their roles in the field
Community Health Worker ECHO calendar
| CHW ECHO Series | Date | Sign Up Information |
| Community Health Work 101 | Tuesdays and Thursdays, October 2, 2025 - March 12, 2026 -10 a.m. - 11:30 a.m. | Sign up here |
Questions? Contact our ECHO team.